# Majrooh Sultanpuri

Asrar ul Hassan Khan (1 October 1919 − 24 May 2000), better known as Majrooh Sultanpuri, was an Indian Urdu poet and lyricist in the Hindi language film industry. He wrote lyrics for numerous Hindi film soundtracks.
He was one of the dominant musical forces in Indian cinema in the 1950s and early 1960s, and was an important figure in the Progressive Writers' Movement. He is considered one of the finest avant-garde Urdu poets of 20th century literature.
In his career spanning six decades, he worked with many music directors. He won the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award in 1965 for "Chahunga Main Tujhe" in the film Dosti, and the highest award in Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement in 1993. In the 1980s and 1990s, most of his work was with Anand–Milind, their most notable collaborations being Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka, Love, and Dahek.
He also wrote for Jatin-Lalit films like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander and their debut film Yaara Dildara.

## Early life

Majrooh Sultanpuri was born as Asrar ul Hassan Khan in a Muslim family, in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where his father was posted in the Police Department in 1919/1920. His father was not too keen on his son receiving English education and Majrooh was therefore sent for traditional 'Madrasa education' which led to his obtaining the qualification first of Dars-e-Nizami – a seven-year course which concentrated on religious affairs along with proficiency in Arabic and Persian- and then the certificate of 'Alim. He thereafter joined Lucknow's Takmeel-ut-Tib College of Unani medicine.
He was a struggling Hakim when he happened to recite one of his ghazals at a mushaira in Sultanpur. The ghazal was a hit with the audience and Majrooh decided to drop his fledgling medical practice and began writing poetry seriously. Soon he was a 'regular' at mushairas and a "shagird" i.e. disciple of the then top name in Urdu Mushairas viz Jigar Moradabadi. While Majrooh is popular as a film lyricist and is widely known in that capacity, be it known that he also created one of the best-known verses of Urdu poetry:
"Main akela hee chala tha janibe manzil magar, log saath aate gaye aur carvan banta gaya!" (I had set off alone towards the destination but people joined in and we became a caravan!)

## Films

In 1945, Majrooh visited Bombay to attend a mushaira at the Saboo Siddique Institute. Here his ghazals and poetry were highly appreciated by the audience. One of the impressed listeners was film producer A.R. Kardar. He contacted Jigar Moradabadi who helped him get in touch with Majrooh. However, Majrooh refused to write for films because he did not think very highly of them. But Jigar Moradabadi persuaded him, saying that films would pay well and would help Majrooh support his family. Kardar then took him to music composer Naushad who put the young writer to test. He gave Majrooh a tune and asked him to write something in the same metre, and Majrooh wrote Jab Usne Gesu Bikhraye, Badal Aaye Jhoom Ke.... Naushad liked what he wrote and Majrooh was signed on as the lyricist for the film Shah Jehan (1946).
Majrooh subsequently wrote lyrics for films like Naatak (1947), Doli (1947) and Anjuman (1948) but his major breakthrough came with Mehboob Khan's Andaz (1949).
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment due to his politically-charged poems in 1949. Having to start his film career afresh, Majrooh finally broke through again with the Guru Dutt films Baaz (1953).
Majrooh Sultanpuri worked with many music directors like Anil Biswas, Naushad, Ghulam Mohammed, Madan Mohan, O. P. Nayyar, Roshan, Salil Chowdhury, Chitragupt, N. Datta, Kalyanji-Anandji, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and R. D. Burman.
His last film as a lyricist was One 2 Ka 4, which was released after his death in 2001.

## Political leanings

Film Shah Jehan (1946) was followed by S. Fazil's Mehndi, Doli (1947), Mehboob's Andaz (1949) and Shaheed Latif's Arzoo. Just as Majrooh was establishing himself as a lyricist and songwriter of repute, his leftist leanings got him into trouble. The government wasn't amused by his anti-establishment poems and he was jailed in 1949 along with other leftists like Balraj Sahni. Majrooh's arrest took place during a nationwide arrest of communists after the 2nd Congress of the Communist Party of India in 1948, in which the communists had decided to carry out a revolution against the Indian government. Majrooh was asked to apologies, but he refused and was sentenced to two years in prison. He was arrested in 1951 for writing and reciting a poem in which Jawaharlal Nehru was compared to Hitler.

## Awards and recognitions

Majrooh went on to write lyrics for popular films throughout the 1950s. Along with Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Khumar Barabankvi, Majrooh was considered the most notable ghazal writer.
Majrooh won his only Filmfare Best Lyricist Award for the song "Chahunga Mein Tujhe Saanj Savere" from Dosti in 1965. He was also awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1993 and became the first lyricist to win the prestigious award.

## Death

Majrooh Sultanpuri had been suffering from lung disease for some time and had a severe attack of pneumonia and died in Mumbai on 24 May 2000. He was aged 80 at the time of his death.

## Discography

| Year | Film | Songs | Language |
| 1963 | Laagi Nahi Chhute Ram | All Songs | Bhojpuri |
| 1969 | Talash | All Songs | Hindi |
| 1970 | Pardesi | All Songs | Hindi |
| 1986 | Ek Aur Sikander | All songs | |
| 1987 | Watan Ke Rakhwale | All songs | |
| 1987 | Inaam Dus Hazaar | All songs | |
| 1988 | Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak | All songs | Hindi |
| 1988 | Janam Janam | "Barkha Rut Bhi Aaj" and "Kahe Dag Mag Teri" | |
| 1988 | Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani | "Dulhe Raja Ki Soorat Dekho", "Kisi Se Jab Pyar Hua", and "Dadi Maa Dadi Maa" | Hindi |
| 1988 | Zahreelay | All songs | |
| 1989 | Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka | All songs | |
| 1989 | Phir Laharaya Lal Dupatta | All songs | Hindi |
| 1990 | Yaara Dildara | All songs | Hindi |
| 1990 | Tum Mere Ho | All songs | Hindi |
| 1990 | Nyay Anyay | All songs | |
| 1990 | Shiva | All songs | |
| 1990 | Ghar Ho To Aisa | All songs | Hindi |
| 1990 | Daulat Ki Jung | All songs | Hindi |
| 1990 | Kanoon Ki Zanjeer | All songs | Hindi |
| 1991 | Aayee Milan Ki Raat | "Mat Ro Mere Dil" and "Dekhein Apni Kismat Mein" | Hindi |
| 1991 | Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar | All songs | Hindi |
| 1991 | Love | All songs | Hindi |
| 1991 | Dastoor | All songs | |
| 1991 | Hai Meri Jaan | "Kahan Chali Ae Nazneen" and "Ghunghat Mera Jane Kya Hua" | Hindi |
| 1991 | Yaar Meri Zindagi | All songs | Hindi |
| 1991 | Humshakal | All songs | Hindi |
| 1992 | Honeymoon | "Yun Na Dekho Tasvir Banke" and "Aadha Tera Dil Aadha Mera Dil" | Hindi |
| 1992 | Gurudev | All songs except "Aaja Sunle Sada" | |
| 1992 | Rishta Ho To Aisa | All songs | Hindi |
| 1992 | Ek Ladka Ek Ladki | All songs except "Chhoti Si Duniya Mohabbat Ki" and "Ande Se Aayee Murgi" | Hindi |
| 1992 | Badi Bahen(1992) | All songs | Hindi |
| 1992 | Dil Aashna Hai | All songs | Hindi |
| 1992 | Mr. Bond | "Jab Do Dil Milte Hain" | Hindi |
| 1992 | Nargis | All songs | Hindi |
| 1993 | Lootere | "Aa Ja Aanewale Aaja", "Oye Pape", and "Meri Barbaad Mohabbat Pukare" | Hindi |
| 1993 | Apaatkaal | All songs | Hindi |
| 1993 | Laqshya | "Tere Bina O Mere", "Bekhudi Ke Nashe", and "Raftar Hai Zindagi Ki" | Hindi |
| 1994 | Andaz Apna Apna | All songs | Hindi |
| 1994 | Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa | All songs | Hindi |
| 1994 | Baazi | All songs except "Na Jaane Kya Ho Gaya" | |
| 1995 | Akele Hum Akele Tum | All songs | Hindi |
| 1995 | Guddu | All songs | |
| 1995 | Paandav | Ye Haina Pyar Hi To Haina", "Pyar Ka Andaz Tum", and "Ye Chaman Jo Jal Gaya" | Hindi |
| 1996 | Khamoshi: The Musical | All songs | Hindi |
| 1996 | Ghatak | All songs except "Koi Jaaye To Le Aaye" | Hindi |
| 1996 | Daraar | "Main Hi Main" | Hindi |
| 1996 | Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai... | All songs | Hindi |
| 1996 | Naam Kya Hai | All songs | Hindi |
| 1997 | Dil Ke Jharoke Main | All songs | Hindi |
| 1997 | Yugpurush | All songs | |
| 1997 | Asha Bhosle's Jaanam Samjha Karo | All songs | Hindi |
| 1998 | Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge! | All songs | Hindi |
| 1999 | Kartoos | All songs | |
| 1999 | Dahek | All songs | |
| 1999 | Jaanam Samjha Karo | All songs | Hindi |
| 1999 | Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin | All songs | Hindi |
| 2000 | Hum To Mohabbat Karega | All songs | Hindi |
| 2000 | Kya Kehna | All songs | Hindi |
| 2000 | Pukar | All songs except "Kay Sera Sera" | |
| 2001 | One 2 Ka 4 | All songs | Hindi |
| 2001 | Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao | All songs | Hindi |